Lubricant containing lithium salts



Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE LUBRICANT CONTAINING LITHIUM SALTS Clarence E. Earle, Washington, D. C.

No Drawing.

Application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,249 a L 1 Claims. (Cl. 25256) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April'30, 1928; 379 0. G. 757) of the higher fatty acids in lubricating oils, both in mineral and in non-drying vegetable oils. 7

I have found that the use of lithium soap or salts of soap forming higher fatty acids in the production of lubricating greases gives the greases entirely diiferent properties from those obtained by the use of the other alkali metal salts. The greases produced by my method are water resistant, whereas the other alkali salts do not give such a property. My lithium soap greases withstand temperatures greatly in excess of those containing other alkali metal salts. The properties of these improved lubricating greases are not only widely diiierent from the other alkali metal soap types but also they are much more stable to temperature and pressure, both chemically and physically.

Suitable oils may be created with lithium salts to produce lubricants having consistencies ranging from viscous oil to grease-like structures.

Among the lithium compounds so used are the lithium salts of acetic, butyric, ethyl butyric, ethyl hexoic and caproic acid. These lithium salts can be, when added to or produced by reactions in mineral or non-drying vegetable oils, in quantities from 4% to 40% by weight, give smooth homogeneous compositions that have high heat resistance, excellent water resistance may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. Lubricating compositions, comprising a lithium salt of an acid from the group consisting of acetic and butyric acids and an oil from the group consisting of mineral and'non-drying vegetable oils, said salt being present in quantities of from 4% to 40%.

2. Lubricating compositions, comprising a lithium salt of an acid from the group consisting of acetic and butyric acids and an oil from the 6. Lubricating compositions, comprising a nondryin Vegetable oil and a lithium salt of acetic acid in quantities sufficient substantially to thicken said oil.

7. Lubricating compositions, comprising mineral oil and a lithium salt of butyric acid in quantities of from 4% to 40%.

8. Lubricating compositions, comprising mineral oil 'and a lithium salt of butyric acid in quantities suflicient substantially to thickensaid oil.

9. Lubricating compositions, comprising a nondrying vegetable oil and a lithium salt of butyric acid in quantities of from 4% to'40%.

10. Lubricating compositions, comprising a non-drying vegetable oil and 'a lithium saltofbutyric acid in quantities suflicient substantially to thicken said oil. 1

CLARENCE E. EARLE 

